外

Say what happens outside

外 (soto) means “outside” or “outdoors.” The small word after 外 helps show whether you are describing outside, doing an activity there or saying what is there.

Describe outside

外は (そとは) · soto wa

は makes outside the topic. 外は寒いです means “It is cold outside.” This is useful when talking about the weather.

Do an activity outside

外で (そとで) · soto de

で marks where an activity happens. Use 外で with actions such as playing, eating or studying.

Say who or what is outside

外に (そとに) · soto ni

Use 外に with います for people or animals, or あります for things. 外に猫がいます means “There is a cat outside.”

Here, 外 is read そと. In 外国 (がいこく, gaikoku), it is read がい, and the whole word means “foreign country.” Learning 外国 is different from practising the word そと.